i've been lurking here for a few years now. finally left civil service middle of this year, so i can share some thoughts.
context: scholar, worked 5.5 years after grad, overseas uni w masters
2017 - MX13, 4.0k
2018 - MX12, 4.6k (roughly)
2019 - MX11, 5.4k (roughly)
2020 - MX11A, 6.1k
2021 - MX11A, 6.4k
This doesn't include 13th month or the midyear/endyear bonuses, or the performance bonus. Including these, i think my average annual started around 70 and ended up around 105.
One fact which is not well known is that there is an additional payment for talent schemes like PSLP. Scholars get put on the scheme almost automatically, but non-scholars have a chance of getting in also. Had a few colleagues who got in. The additional payment is rather significant (way more than 10% of your annual package). Admin Service also has a additional payment which is EVEN more significant (although you can only get 33% after the first year, another 33 in second year and the last 33% in the 3rd year, which is a way to retain people). The additional payment also scales up (as a proportion of income) as you rise up the ranks - for top positions, it can be half your pay or more. This is why i laugh when I see people on this forum try to figure out superscale salary and wonder why the numbers reported look so different - without the additional payment the number looks small, with the payment suddenly the numbers jump.
As for everything else...
first of all, civil service is an ENORMOUS place. statements like "good work life balance", "a lot of useless bosses", "nothing to learn", "good career progression", "a lot of retired army people", "first year always get C grade" are all true and also all untrue at the same time. it's a bit like saying "Singaporeans have dogs" or "Singaporeans like Mandopop more than english pop".
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Cos private sector sucks lor maybe work life balance not there or salary not there etc. Public sector stable n better work life balance although got OT but generally better than private. Ok la public if u can get in imo.
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some places have amazing WLB, mostly stat board. DOS, IRAS come to mind. some places have shitty WLB. no matter where you are, scholars will have it worse because of additional saigang- er, i mean, "opportunities to shine". I was unfortunate to be in a place with bad WLB, plus COVID, plus scholar. There was a period of ~6 months in 2020 where I was working worse than the feared "996" hours of chinese tech companies (9am-9pm, 6 days a week). Seriously. Circuit Breaker and the restrictions afterwards barely affected me because i had no time to step out of the house or meet people anyway.
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Sure a not! Leadership role immediately from the private sector?
Got example? I seldom hear this happen.
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Specialist possible. Generalist - very very rare. Generalist leaders tend to be PSLP/AS schemes, which are very very hard to join mid-service (i only know 1 person in the entire civil service below the age of 40 who is a mid-career AS scheme).
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Generalist roles pay lower than specialist schemes. Not worth to join govt sector as generalist unless you have no other offers from pte sector.
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Yes. Or if you think you can make it into the talent schemes.
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Originally Posted by Unregistered
Manager shld be MX 12, Senior Manager MX 11
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This really depends on the ministry. MX13 (entry level for uni grad) can be Executive, Manager or even Assistant Director.